- December 20, 2025
- 4:04 pm
- Ukraine, Video
A large-scale study of Jewish culture in Ukraine launched in Kyiv
The official opening of a large-scale interdisciplinary project “Jewish Heritage in Ukraine: Interdisciplinary Reflections through the Prism of Archival Documents, Culture, History, and Literature” took place within the walls of the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” (NaUKMA) — an initiative that brings together historians, philologists, cultural experts, and archivists for a comprehensive study of Jewish heritage on Ukrainian soil.
The project is implemented with the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and funding from the European Union.
“Mohylianka” acts as the program coordinator, and the key partner for communication and information is the UNESCO office in Ukraine.
This was reported by the website of the “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” on November 5, 2025.
“This is not just research, it’s a return to memory”
The ceremonial opening was attended by NaUKMA President Serhiy Kvit, UNESCO Communication and Information Program Coordinator Albertina Peterbarg, General Director of “Mystetskyi Arsenal” Olesya Ostrovska-Liuta, and Vice President for Academic and Research Work and Scientific Director of the Project Olga Polyukhovych.
In his speech, Serhiy Kvit emphasized that Mohylianka has historically been associated with the ideas of intercultural dialogue and the free exchange of knowledge:
“This project is not only scientific research. It is a return to memory that has been erased for decades. Ukraine has always been home to many cultures, and today we must restore this polyphonic narrative.”
According to Albertina Peterbarg, UNESCO’s mission in such initiatives is “to support bridges between the past and the future, between peoples and their histories.” She noted that the NaUKMA project is an example of how national universities can take on the role of guardians of humanity’s intangible heritage.
How the project idea emerged
The idea was born in the spring of 2024 when the NaUKMA team, together with the Center for the Study of the History and Culture of East European Jewry, began working on the concept of a digital archive and a virtual museum of Jewish heritage.
On October 20, 2025, Mohylianka officially announced the start of the project’s implementation with the support of UNESCO and the EU. Under the agreement, the university received a grant to develop a series of scientific and educational initiatives aimed at preserving cultural memory and popularizing knowledge about the Jewish history of Ukraine.
Interdisciplinary approach and research structure
The project brings together specialists from various fields — history, philology, cultural studies, archival science, museum management, and digital technologies.
The main tasks include:
systematizing archival collections in Ukrainian cities related to Jewish history (Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Chernivtsi, and others);
digitizing and describing documents related to the daily life, education, and culture of Jewish communities;
preparing a collective monograph, an anthology of Jewish literature in the Ukrainian context, and an educational reader;
enhancing the virtual museum of NaUKMA — an open online platform featuring archival materials, visual sources, interviews, and rare editions;
conducting public round tables, lectures, and exhibitions to engage the Ukrainian and international community in understanding this heritage.
First round table: “Jewish Discourse in Ukrainian Culture: Paradoxes of Memory”
Immediately after the official opening, the first thematic round table titled “Jewish Discourse in Ukrainian Culture: Paradoxes of Memory” took place.
The moderator was Roman Veretelnyk, a candidate of philological sciences and a researcher of 20th-century literature. Participants included Iryna Borysiuk, Rostyslav Semkiv, Margarita Yehorchenko, and Olga Polyukhovych.
Scholars discussed how the Jewish theme is represented in Ukrainian culture — from classics to contemporary literature, how the perception of “Jewish” in Ukrainian identity has changed, and what taboos existed during the Soviet period.
“The paradox of memory is that we know how everything was forgotten, but we don’t always know how to bring it back. We need to learn to talk about pain, dialogue, and heritage without reducing it to a museum showcase,” noted Olga Polyukhovych.
From archives to people: why it matters today
The project is not limited to the academic environment.
Its goal is to create a public space of memory where Jewish culture is considered part of Ukrainian history, not a separate, isolated layer.
As part of the program, educational seminars for students, training on digital archiving, lectures on the history of Ukrainian Jews, as well as excursions and workshops will be held to revive interest in local heritage.
Special attention is given to the history of destroyed communities in Eastern Europe and the attempt to restore the fates of specific people, families, rabbis, and writers through archival documents, whose names have remained forgotten for decades.
Ukraine, Israel, and the global dimension
In an era when anti-Semitism is re-emerging in various countries, the NaUKMA project has both a humanitarian and symbolic mission — to remind that Jewish history is an integral part of Ukrainian and European identity. This topic is especially important in the context of Ukrainian-Israeli relations: today, hundreds of thousands of descendants of Ukrainian Jews live in Israel, for whom studying archives and restoring cultural memory becomes a way to reconnect with their ancestors.
International cooperation and the role of UNESCO
UNESCO representative Albertina Peterbarg emphasized that the “Jewish Heritage in Ukraine” project aligns with the organization’s strategic priorities in the field of cultural heritage protection and freedom of scientific research.
“We support NaUKMA because we see how this university combines scientific work with a real public mission. This is an example of cultural diplomacy and academic solidarity,” she stated.
The European Union — financial partner and guarantor of transparency
A publication on the NaUKMA website notes that the project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union, along with a standard disclaimer:
“The content of the project is the sole responsibility of the implementer and does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union.”
Thus, the initiative is not a political program but an independent study aimed at preserving and rethinking cultural heritage.
What comes next
By the end of 2026, the project team plans to complete the first cycle of research and present the results at an international conference in Kyiv, in collaboration with Mystetskyi Arsenal, the Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies, and partner institutions in Israel, Canada, and Poland.
Additionally, the virtual museum of Jewish culture in Ukraine will be available online in three languages — Ukrainian, English, and Hebrew.
Returning to a polyphonic history
The opening of the “Jewish Heritage in Ukraine” project became an event not only academic but also symbolic. In a country at war, where homes, archives, and monuments are destroyed daily, the NaUKMA initiative reminds us: memory can be restored even from ashes.
Today, Ukraine is building its future without rejecting its past. And in this lies the main meaning of the new research program, in which the history of Jews in Ukraine becomes part of the common narrative of resistance, survival, and mutual understanding.
What is NaUKMA and UNESCO
National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” (NaUKMA)
Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Eastern Europe. Its history dates back to 1632, when Metropolitan Petro Mohyla founded an educational institution that became the first center of higher education in Ukraine.
Today, NaUKMA is a modern university with a European education system, active academic exchange, and international partnerships. The institution is known for its humanities school, programs in cultural studies, history, political science, and digital technologies, as well as the Center for the Study of the History and Culture of East European Jewry.
Mohylianka actively collaborates with universities in Israel, Canada, the USA, and EU countries, remaining an independent platform for scientific initiatives and free discussion.
The motto of NaUKMA: “Quaere Verum” — “Seek the truth.”
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
UNESCO is a specialized agency of the UN, established on November 16, 1945. Its headquarters is located in Paris, France. The main goal of the organization is to strengthen peace through international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication.
UNESCO coordinates the World Heritage List, protects cultural values, promotes language preservation, and supports academic programs worldwide.
In Ukraine, the organization operates through the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO and implements projects in the field of cultural heritage, media education, archive preservation, and freedom of scientific research.
The motto of UNESCO: “Building peace in the minds of men and women” — “Creating peace in the minds of men and women.”
NANews — News of Israel